Welcome to the latest edition of NHL Rumours on Last Word On Hockey. With the NHL Trade Deadline officially in the rearview, the dissection process begins. That process has revealed some interesting tidbits about the behind-the-scenes negotiations.
In particular, this edition will drill down on the Detroit Red Wings and their pursuit of a right-shot defenceman. The club was down to two big names, ultimately choosing one.
NHL Rumours: Red Wings Were Down to Justin Faulk and Rasmus Ristolainen
Rumour: The Red Wings traded for Justin Faulk in the final minutes of the NHL trade deadline. However, the club was reportedly down to two options. General manager Steve Yzerman was down to the choice between the Philadelphia Flyers Rasmus Ristolainen and the St. Louis Blues Justin Faulk. The Red Wings took Faulk over Ristolainen, as insider Elliotte Friedman noted in Saturday’s edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast.
Analysis: The Red Wings followed through on NHL rumours, trading for Faulk at the deadline. The Wings sent veteran Justin Holl, prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2026 third-round pick.
The ultimate price tag wasn’t as high as some might have expected. In fact, it was surprising to see the Blues’ willingness to take Holl’s contract in the deal. NHL rumours had posited that the Blues’ asking price was enormous for Faulk. However, that wasn’t evident in the final trade.
Likely, the Wings pivoted towards Faulk precisely because the Blues had a lower price tag than the Flyers. While it’s unclear what the Flyers wanted for Ristolainen, that could have been the key difference in choosing Faulk over Ristolainen. In the end, the Red Wings got the piece they wanted at a much lower price point.
Red Wings Did Not Surrender any Top Prospects
The inclusion of the first and third-round picks was par for the course in a trade such as this one. What seemed truly surprising was the fact that NHL rumours suggested teams wanted one of Detroit’s top prospects.
Names floating around included Marco Kasper, Nate Danielson, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, and Michael Brandseg-Nygard. However, none of those names ended up going to St. Louis in the Faulk deal. That’s likely the reason why the Red Wings chose Faulk over Ristolainen. Clearly, Flyers and Blues management had different visions, regarding those prospects’ potential.
In particular, the Flyers could have their eyes set on Sandin-Pellikka. Losing Ristolainen would have meant having a hole in their blueline. While Sandin-Pellikka wouldn’t have exactly been a replacement for Ristolainen, he would have been a solid addition.
It’s unclear what the Flyers would have wanted for Ristolainen. But what is clear is that Steve Yzerman wasn’t willing to pay for it. If anything, the Flyers may have overplayed their hand at the deadline. NHL rumours were clear that Ristolainen wasn’t going to be cheap.
However, the Flyers were unable to move him at all. Perhaps teams circle back to Ristolainen in the offseason. But for now, NHL rumours will likely quiet down regarding the Flyers and a potential Ristolainen trade.
Main Photo: Thomas Salus-Imagn Images
